2 of 2

Mary Magdalene (Lynsey Baxter) appears in various scenes before her presence at the cross, including the feeding of the 5,000 and the Last Supper. (John's Gospel offers no basis for Dan Brown's nonsensical speculations in The Da Vinci Code about Mary being married to Jesus and having children by him.) This does raise interesting issues about female disciples such as Mary Magdalene—namely, where did they eat and sleep when they were on the road with Jesus and the Twelve? Did they regularly dine with the entire group?

The filmmakers fill in some blanks about Mary, since she plays such an important role at the cross and on Easter, even though the Fourth Evangelist does not present us with the data we find in Luke 8:1-3.

We are also mercifully spared the common mistake (as in Gibson's Passion) of portraying Mary Magdalene as being the woman caught in adultery—something no Gospel even hints at.

For a movie with such limited screen exposure—it opened in various Bible-belt towns last fall, skipping California and New York altogether—this is a stunning success. Its arrival on VHS and DVD should make a bigger splash. The DVD package runs three hours; the film is on two disks, and a third consists of background information, interviews with the principal actors, and extras such as maps (see www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com).

No one should have any reservations about recommending this for use in any church or Christian school. I hope this film will be successful enough to help the Visual Bible team complete its next project, on the Gospel of Mark.

For now, we may be thankful that the Word made flesh has become the Word made visible. In an age of visual learners, this is likely to attract many people who would never take the time to read John's Gospel.

Ben Witherington III is professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. The Gospel of John is available on DVD and VHS at www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com/store and in retail outlets.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today.Click for reprint information.

More on the movie is available from its web site.

Christianity Today movies has an announcement from The Visual Bible International about its upcoming The Gospel of Mark.

More on Bible movies, available from our Films page, includes

Lethal Suffering | The Passion underlines Christ's humanity like no film before (Feb. 25, 2004)

Jonah Bags Boffo Box Office | But Big Idea lays off 30 in 'heartbreaking' cuts. (Nov. 01, 2002)

Runaway Asparagus | Big Idea's Jonah is both wholesome and hip. (Oct. 04, 2002)

A Pale Imitation | Joseph Girzone's modern messiah undergoes the Hollywood treatment. (May 02, 2002)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

May 2004, Vol. 48, No. 5